TACOMA REAL ESTATE ATTORNEYS

BRINK LAW FIRM

Who We Are

We are a small land use and real estate law firm dedicated to our clients and our work. Brink Law Firm is composed of Terry Brink and his son, Clinton Brink. Both born and raised in Tacoma, we are committed to furthering the development of this great city and the surrounding areas. We work hard, we never cut corners, and we get the job done right. Click on the pictures below to learn more about us individually:

HAVE A LAND USE OR REAL ESTATE ISSUE?

Helping Clients With Real Estate Cases in and Around Pierce County

Terry and Clinton Brink of the Brink Law Firm are committed to providing quality legal services related to real estate matters in Tacoma and throughout Pierce County, King County, Thurston County, and Kitsap County. If you would like to discuss how our we can assist you, please contact us today.

What Do Real Estate Attorneys Do?

The term “real estate law” covers a wide variety of legal topics having to do with property. Real estate law often overlaps with contract law, constitutional law, litigation, municipal law, and corporate law. We’ve written in detail on some of our most common practice sub-areas in the Practice Areas Articles list above.

No matter what the issue, real estate relationships are almost always—or should almost always be—governed by written contracts. Contracts are legally binding documents that, dictate your rights and responsibilities in the development or transaction. The terms of a contract are like additional laws that you agree to abide by, and so they are usually enforceable in court.

Real estate contracts often include highly-technical jargon that can be difficult to understand—even for the most experienced real estate developers and owners. Too often, contracts contain unfavorable terms that remain hidden until a dispute brings them into focus. If you sign a contract with unfavorable terms, it may result in unnecessary expenses and legal liability down the road. Therefore, it is always best to have an experienced attorney carefully review any important contract before you sign it—especially real estate contracts where the financial stakes are typically high.

Many real estate projects and transactions are delayed or halted altogether when complications or disputes arise between the parties. With the help of a knowledgeable real estate attorney, these complications can be resolved efficiently so that you can move forward with your project or transaction.

An experienced real estate lawyer can do the following and more:

Review any contracts that are presented to you to determine whether any terms may be lopsided or unfair.

Negotiate terms in a contract that are more favorable to your position.

Draft any contracts that you are responsible for presenting, specifically tailoring them to your situation.

Negotiate financing problems with financial institutions.

Ensure you are properly protected by your title insurance and that an insurance company is not acting in bad faith.

Help resolve any disputes with sellers, purchasers, landlords, tenants, neighbors, government agencies, and more.

Determine when another party is in breach of contract and stand up for your rights.

Each real estate matter is different, so we work to evaluate the best possible options in each individual case.

Do You Need a Real Estate Attorney?

Not every real estate matter requires legal counsel. However, if you have a problem related to property, and there’s a significant amount of money at stake, hiring an attorney can be a very wise decision. It may sound like a sales pitch coming from us, but the truth is that hiring a good attorney can actually save you money and time in the long-run.

Even small real estate disputes can involve large sums of money. For example, the way that a piece of land is used can have a significant impact on its economic value and, in the case of residential property, whether the people living on it can fully enjoy it. This is often because the way land is used can affect parties other than the land’s owner or owners; if you have a beautiful view of the mountains, you would likely object to your neighbors putting up a fence that blocks that view. Similarly, if you are the owner of a business that requires access to a loading dock near the water, there is a strong chance that you would oppose development that would restrict such access. These are the kind of everyday real estate disputes that we deal with daily.

If you find yourself in a real estate dispute, it is highly advisable that you contact a knowledgeable land use attorney as early in the process as possible. Here are some of the specific ways that a lawyer may be able to help:

Determine the strength of your position – Property law and land use regulations are a complicated matter, and many rules and regulations seem counterintuitive. When you retain an attorney, he or she will analyze your dispute and determine whether you are likely to prevail.

Effectively negotiate a resolution to your dispute – Not every land use dispute ends up in court. In many cases, an attorney familiar with land use law can negotiate a resolution that is amenable to both parties to the dispute and saves everyone involved the cost and uncertainty associated with litigation.

Represent you in court or before a local zoning board – In some cases, you may need to appear in court or before a zoning board in order to resolve your land use dispute. When you have retained an attorney, he or she will represent your interests in any proceedings that may occur.

Appeal an adverse decision – If your land use dispute is not resolved in your favor, your lawyer may pursue an appeal in the appropriate venue.

Know the best people to talk to – Depending on the problem, a good real estate attorney will know the right engineer, surveyor, or contractor for the job. He or she might know municipal employee or elected official to speak to about your problem.

These are just some of the ways that a lawyer may be able to help you if you are involved in a land-use dispute.

Unique Experience

At the Brink Law Firm, we have hands-on real estate experience that most other attorneys lack.

Prior to becoming an attorney, Terry Brink worked as a contractor and owned his own real estate brokerage firm for nearly 20 years. Today, Terry maintains an active brokerage license and owns a number of residential and commercial investment properties around Pierce County that he continues to develop, leasing, and manage.

Clinton Brink has attended real estate tours since childhood, and now plays an active role in the family real estate investment business—evicting tenants, collaborating with management, and working on tax strategies. He has recently purchased his own multifamily investment property and is managing it himself.

Representing a Wide Variety of Real Estate Clients

Real estate transactions can involve residential, commercial, or industrial properties and many parties may be involved in a single transaction. We have represented all sides of a real estate deal and our clients include:

Find Out How a Qualified Real Estate Attorney Can Help

Often, there is too much on the line in a real estate transaction to risk not having the advice and guidance of a highly-qualified real estate lawyer. Too many people realize that they should have had legal assistance only after they have lost significant resources due to an unexpected conflict.

Terry and Clinton Brink are local attorneys who are dedicated to practicing real estate law in the south sound area, including Pierce County, King County, Thurston County and Kitsap County. Call today at 253.620.6666 or contact us online.